Tim Leeds Havre Daily News tleeds@havredailynews.com
For the 21st year in a row, Havre will abound with hot rods as the Hi-Line Cruz’n Association holds its annual Bear Paw Rod Run, starting with a registration and feed at the Great Northern Fairgrounds Friday night. Association secretary Kirsti Cederberg said she expects, with a prediction of good weather for the weekend, to have a good turnout. “Since the weather is supposed to be good we have people coming who haven’t made it the last few years, she said. “Last year we got monsooned on, but we still had fun.” The National Weather Service is forecasting partly cloudy skies with highs in the 70s and lows in the 50s for Friday and Saturday. Cederberg said people have registered about 40 cars to be in the run so far, with vehicles ranging from a 1931 four-door Chrysler sedan to a 2002 Ford Thunderbird convertible. “We’ve got a guy coming from Washington, from Spokane. We usually have a lot of Canadians as well,” she said. People can register their cars for the run until 1 p.m. on Saturday, and Cederberg said some years there are registrations right up to the deadline. The cars will be on display at the county fairgrounds during the Show N Shine from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, which is free and open to the public. Cederberg said many people come to look at the cars, with some making a special trip to Havre just for the Show N Shine. “They enjoy the cars,”she said. “I don’t think a lot of people know how much time and work go into them but they think they are nice.” After the Show N Shine, the cruisers will take their rods on a trip through Beaver Creek Park, making a “Poker Run” to Marden’s Camp Ground and back. “After you’ve driven all the way to Havre you’d think you’d Be tired of driving, but they seem to enjoy it,” Cederberg said. The people registered for the run will have a dinner Saturday starting at 6 p.m. consisting of a pitchfork fondue put on by the Cruz’n Association, followed by awards and dancing to Havre’s own Blind Luck. Registration for the event is at the Great Northern Fairgrounds from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. The registration fee is $40 per family or $30 for one person, with $15 for each extra guest. People can also register just to show their car in the Show N Shine Saturday, which costs $5.
